OAKLAND – Andrew Bogut’s honesty cuts both ways. It’s refreshing when it’s what you want to hear, biting when it hits too close for comfort.
Asked about his impressions of Kevin Durant as a teammate, Bogut delivered a tall glass of refreshing.
“That he’s arguably the best player in the world,” Bogut said Monday, chuckling for emphasis.
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In the eight games since Bogut arrived on March 18, he has seen Durant’s scoring efficiency go off the charts, with 55-percent shooting from the field and to 67.1 percent inside the 3-point line.
Throughout that stretch, Durant’s attempt rate has varied wildly, from as many as 25 shots on March 23 against Dallas to as few as five Sunday against Charlotte.
“He’s one of those guys that can go out there and get 40 or 50 on any given night,” Bogut said. “But he’s trying to play within the system as well, knowing that he has Steph (Curry) and Klay (Thompson) and other guys, like DeMarcus (Cousins), that he needs to get going.
“But he’s probably the most talented scorer I’ve ever been around.”
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Durant was not available Monday – both he and Quinn Cook were attending a memorial service in the Washington D.C. area – but has indicated that he’s doing what he thinks is best for the team. He has nearly as many assists (54) as field goals (64) over the past eight games.
After observing Durant for two weeks, Bogut feels confident that Durant’s approach, trying to balance scoring with playmaking, is tactical.
“The balance is winning,” Bogut said. “I think Kevin knows that. Kevin’s never been a guy, since I’ve been around, that’s been coming in after games saying he needs more shots.
“This team . . . knows that it has five All-Stars in the starting lineup. You can’t all go out there and score 30. I think Kevin’s been more comfortable the last couple games distributing more than he’s used to. There are times when Steph will do that. Klay, not so much because he shoots (the ball) every time he touches it.”
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That last comment, regarding Thompson, was made tongue in cheek.
Or maybe with a little bite.